New City Laws and Rules

Law new refers to legislation that is enacted by government bodies and becomes legally binding. Creating laws allows elected representatives to fulfill their role in shaping public policy and reflecting the priorities and values of their constituents, while also addressing significant social issues and adapting to changing circumstances. New laws are created in a process that includes various stages of drafting, committee review, floor debate and voting. The legislative process can also include amendments that change the original proposal before final enactment. The creation of new laws is a crucial part of our democracy and ensures that Congress continues to respond to the needs and concerns of the American people.

AB 3105 changes state wage and hour regulations to allow instructors at independent institutions of higher education incorporated outside California to qualify for the same exemptions as faculty at in-state universities, provided that they meet certain conditions. The bill also makes clear that these provisions are declaratory of existing law.

SB 1100 prevents employers from including in job advertisements, postings or applications the requirement that an employee must have a driver’s license. Employers may only require a valid form of ID, or a statement that the employer expects applicants to be qualified for the position by having a driver’s license or equivalent identification. In addition, the bill requires an employer to provide an alternative form of transportation for employees whose work duties require driving or whose commute to their job would take longer by bus than by car, and prohibits employers from discriminating against a person for failing to possess a valid driver’s license.

A new law, named after Sammy Cohen Eckstein, lowers the city’s speed limit to 20 miles per hour on all streets, as well as reduces the maximum speed for motor vehicles from 30 to 50 miles per hour, in order to increase safety for pedestrians. The law is the result of a decade of advocacy by parents and families of children who have been killed or injured on New York’s streets.

NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) rules implementing Local Laws 13 of 2022 and 52 of 2024 include penalty schedules related to keeping or selling force-fed products, open captioning in motion picture theaters, and automated employment decision tools. DCWP also published a notice regarding student loan forgiveness programs for certain workers. New City laws and rules are listed by their effective dates and can be found on the Laws of the City website and in the NYC Code.